Sant Rampal Singh Jhande joins Akali Dal

Ludhiana: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today got a huge
boost in this parliamentary constituency when revered religious leader Sant
Rampal Singh Jhande joined the SAD in
the presence of its president Sukhbir Singh Badal.

Sant Rampal Jhande has a huge following in the entire Malwa
region and thousands of people attend his weekly congregations. He is known for
the immense social work he has done in the area besides supply of free
medicines to the people.

Sukhbir Singh Badal

Sant ji expressed his desire to join the SAD and do public
service on a larger platform during a meeting with the SAD president at his
dera today. Sukhbir Badal immediately acceded to the request and said the SAD
would give him an important post in the party organization befitting his
contribution to society. The SAD president was accompanied with senior leader
Maheshinder Singh Grewal and former legislator Darshan Singh Shiwalik.

During interaction with the Sant, the SAD president related
how there was a feeling of despondency amongst the common man as well as Dalits
due to complete paralysis of social welfare schemes. He said the government had
forsaken the common man by increasing power bills to the tune of Rs 12,000
crores in two years. He said dalits were being discriminated with Shagun scheme
being stopped even as Rs 1140 crore is pending to old aged beneficiaries who
are not getting pensions. SC scholarship worth Rs 1285 crore has not been given
to SC students, he added. Sant Jhande said he would lead a movement to ensure
the down trodden and under privileged were not discriminated during Congress
rule.